Laboratorio macchine e Student Project House del Politecnico federale (ETH) di Zurigo - ristrutturazione e riconversione

The Machine Laboratory is a closely interwoven complex of buildings composed of two teaching buildings (ML1 and ML2), a Machine Hall (MLH), Machine Laboratories North (MLN) and West (MLW) and a District Heating Plant (FHK – Fernheizkraftwerk). In line with the spirit of modernity, Otto Rudolf Salvisberg emphasised the technical nature of the buildings, primarily expressed by the tall chimney and cooling tower of the district heating plant.

Clearing and retrofitting work

A central requirement of the renovation and reconstruction work is to restore the original simplicity of the Machine Laboratory. Under this premise, the various building components are radically cleared and freed from structural elements added retrospectively. At the same time, the load-bearing structure and building services are brought up to date and the district heating plant is made earthquake-resistant. The building envelopes are retained in strict compliance with the historic preservation concept.

Machine hall: new glass prism roof and increased spatial capacity

The machine hall is one of the first fully welded steel frame buildings in Switzerland. Since the supporting structure of the hall still meets modern requirements, it can be left in its current state. The characteristic glass prism roof, on the other hand, needs full renovation. The glass construction elements used are only one third of the thickness of a modern glass block element, specified as 24 cm by building physics requirements.

In an effort to increase the capacity of the now empty machine hall from 50 to 300 persons, all technical equipment is placed in an area of the building located above the control room. This technical floor, like a technical bridge suspended in space, connects the teaching building to the district heating plant now used as a Student Project House.

Former district heating plant becomes Student Project House

A major transformation of the district heating plant is achieved by means of significant structural interventions. Boilers extending all the way up to the roof are replaced by a new interior composed of a three-storey gallery system. Students at ETH Zurich use the Student Project House as a platform for developing innovative ideas and projects.

Preservation order protects traces of original building

The historic preservation concept respects the architecture of this Swiss modernist building complex: the silhouette of the building anchored in the cityscape re-emerges, while the facade design and materiality of the interior reflect the old structure – even the typical Salvisberg colour scheme is reproduced in reminiscence of the original.

A history of nearly 100 years can be discerned from occasional remnants of the past exposed during the numerous interventions. The interplay of old and new is most strikingly evident in the walls and floors of the district heating plant and machine hall.